Percussion fuse for projectiles, bombs and the like



sept. 1s, 1936.

l.. E. REMoNDY 2,054,510

PERCUSSION FUSE y:FOR PROJECTILES, BOMBS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 27,1934 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffllllmf V @f v A Sept. 1.5, 1936. l.. E. REMONDYPERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROJECTILES, BOMBS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 27, 19542 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Lf c. T

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERCU S SION FUSEFOR PROJECTILES, BQBIBS AND THE LIKE Lon Emile Rmondy, Paris, France 13Claims.

It is known that percussion fuses, whether intended for projectileswhich are to be shot from a gun or for bombs carried by an aircraft,have to satisfy a multiplicity of conditions which it has beenpractically impossible to reconcile with each other heretofore.- Thus,fuses intended for projectiles to be shot from a gun are required topossess extreme sensitivity, that is to say, the possibility ofoperation even on encountering an obstacle of very slight resistance,such as an aircraft fabric for example. At the same time, it is requiredthatl such fuses shall not allow of untimely firing in the case of anaccidental fall during handling, even if the projectile falls from arelatively considerable height on to a body of considerable resistance(paved roads, rails of railway tracks and so forth). If a modern fuse,which satisfies these conditions, is to be employed for a bomb to bedropped from an aircraft, it is required that operation shall beimpossible in the case of the premature fall of the bomb or of theaircraft itself from a height which may attain 40 or 50 metres, while onthe other hand it is necessary that the fuse should operate onencountering even an obstacle of very slight resistance (humus, marshyground, and so forth) when the height of fall is still of a relativelysmall value, as on the order of 150 to 200 metres. Finally, the fuseemployed with a projectile to be fired from a gun should be soconstructed that it cannot operate in any circumstances except after ithas left the gun.

The present invention relates to an extremely simple and inexpensivepercusssion fuse which satises the desiderata enumerated in theforegoing.

Whereas, in the known percussion fuses, the operation of the firingmechanism is absolutely entirely the result either of the driving in ofthe front member of the mechanism or of the inertia of the rear member,or simultaneously of both these phenomena, the new fuse is constructedon an entirely new principle which consists in utilizing the relativeinertias of the elements of the front member of the firing mechanism,which inertias come into operation after the obstacle is encountered,the said front member being constructed or designed in such a manner asto be able to dissociate under the effect of the said different inertiasof its elements. The liberated rear element, the velocity of which isconsiderably reduced or is practically destroyed, is thus encountered bythe rear member of the mechanisrn which continues its travel with theprojectile, the shock, however, being capable of producing ignition onlyif the velocity of the projectile is suiciently high.

The dissociable front element of the ring mechanism may be given variousforms of construction.

Diferent constructional embodiments of the invention to be describedhereinafter are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings show in sectional elevation the frontpart of a fuse body of any known type provided with a mechanismaccording to the invention, before and after the operation of themechanism, respectively.

Figure 3 shows in part sectional elevation the front portion of a fusebody provided with another form of construction of the invention.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional elevations of still another embodiment ofthe invention, Figure 5 showing the position which the striker mayassume in case of a premature driving in thereof.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a further modification of theinvention.

Figure '7 shows a modification of the device illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a partially sectional elevation illus` tratng theapplication of the invention to a fuse in which the intermediate firingpercussion cap is omitted.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of another form of the invention inwhich the dissociable member of the fuse mechanism is the percussion capcarrier.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the retaining washer of the mechanism ofFigure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of still another form of theinvention illustrating its application to a bomb.

Figure 12 is a similar View illustrating the application of acentrifugally actuated safety device to one form of the presentinvention.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, a denotes a fuse body ofknown construction in which are mounted a rear firing member, preferablythe percussion cap b, which in this particular case is fixed in itslodgment, and a front member, preferably the striker, the whole of whichis denoted by c. In this case, the said striker is constituted in themanner known per se simply by a stem carrying the rearwardly extendingpercussion needle point c1 and having on its forward end an enlargedhead c2 the latter being disposed and held at a suitable distance e froma supporting shoulder a1 provided on the fuse body a, the retention inthis position being normally assured, likewise in known manner, forexample by a frangible or shearable pin d.

According to the invention, the striker thus held at the distance e isso designed that the masses forwardly, rearwardly and in the region ofthe retaining member d are so chosen that, under the effect of itsVinertia, all the part of the striker situated A,practically `below .thehorizontal (as viewed'in Figure l) axial planeof; the pin becomesdetached from the front part carrying the head c2 after the latter,under the action of the obstacle encountered, comes to bear on theshoulder a1, this result being possible, however, v.onlyiiftheprojectile possesses a suitable velocity at the ymoment of impact and ifit can retain-.a veryconsiderable proportion of such velocity afterencountering the obstacle. Y Y

The operation of the fuse descrbedlandishown Vin Figures 1 and 2 mayfurthermore beexplain-ed as follows: Y LAssumingnthat 'theprojectilezisfmoving at a fairly high velocity, which 4it ica'nonlylattain if 100; to 150 metres, and that at this veloci-tytheprojectileencounters,y yan-fcbstaclej of slight resistithelstrikerfandm-ayy consequentlybe selectedsuf- Y if'lcientlyeweak.v VjNlhen thefs'triker in its relative vinwardmovement-isfarrested on'the vshouldera1,

v'it will be''immdi-ately driven forward by `the prcjectile'whi'ch', dueto-thelcwresis'tance of the --'obstacle, yis capable-of advancingLatl astill 'considerable velocity, This'fabilityof i the projectile `"toadvance may fbe -assis'ted moreover by 1 a relatively; taperedf'form of-the fron-'t part -o'f the ogive extremely'sudden dfrivingfby theprojectile, which the shoulder a1,the rear and `-front elementsof ifthestriker offer different'fresistances, by reason of their -suitabiychosen d'iierentrnasses, which 1 tn'ds 5to causeaa fdissocia'tion, thislbeing furthermore ensured by weakening sufficientlyfthe zone1ofiseparationbetween'therear. element carrying fthe-n'eedlelpoint'c1-and? tlrefront 'element carrying This weakening lmaybernerely due tothe holeprovided for the passage ycf-th'epin d;

ed still further by weakening EtheY cross-'section 4"in theI zone o'f`*the "pinLifor 'examplefby turning,

As above pointed out, the'fs'h'ock ofthefshoulder "Sal againstIthe'indeformablehea'd c25 followed inprojectile, brings-they? inertia"ofi thernee'dle .point carrying crear 'element :el of the :striker`fviolently zintegplay;andycausesfthe dissociation: between the rear,ele-ment' carryingfltheneedle .pci-nt cl and the frontfelementcarryngthe 'head-c2. .Of course,

the Vc l-istanc-e` abetween the head-c2` and the -shoulldergalfis essthan the.distance f separating the extremitysof the.- needle point Lc1.from the percuSsiOncapb, so that even in the case ofuntimelyrnpturebfthegpind, .the-needle point of fthe .striker-cannotmeet the percussion cap, it -being impossibleJfor sucli'meetingtctakejplace Q u iiless'the elements of 'the'strikerare dissociated.

"Figure" shows the *percussion Acap 'impaled on the, striker after theseparation or vdissociation theftwoi'elements'of'the'iatter.

Of course, the suitable distribution of the masses in the striker as awhole may be obtained in various ways. Thus, it is possible to provide arecess in the portion carrying the head.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 3, instead of the, strikerbeing constituted by a single body, the masses of which are suitablydistributed rWith a View to dissociationA into two elements situatedrespectively above and below the region of the retaining member, thesaid striker is constituted by two distinct elements normally securedtogether but separable upon impact. The front :element carrying the headc2 is in this case xed to thelfuse body a by the pin d which also servesto retain the whole of the striker in inoperative position, while therear element c1 which carries the needlepoint istted in a cavity of thestem c f and is normally secured to the said stem by a frangi-ble orshearable member such as the pin g, any forward displacement of clrelatively to c2 being prevented for example by a supporting col- Alarc3iformed Ion the element c1. As in the pre- .cedinglexample, a distancee,`less than the distancef separating the percussion cap b from thepoint .of the striker, is left between the head c2 zand a shoulder a1 of:the fuse body.

. 'LThe operation of the fuse according to Figure 3;isfquite similartothat of the fuse shown in Figures ..1 and .32. On encountering anobstacle of slight resistance, such as an aircraft fabric or Vsoftground for example,the pin d issheared by Ythe driving in of theindeformable head c2 and the latter'moved rearwardly until it strikesthe shoulder a1 of the fuse body with a sudden shock, re-

Y sulting inthe shearing of the' pin y. Immediately after this shock,'the whole of'the striker thus Pli'bera'ted'from lthe-fuseA body isdriven by the projectile which, due to the relatively slight resistanceof the obstacle, may continue its travel. The inertia of theneedle-point-carrying rearelement c1 of the strikertheny comes intoplay, the said element tending to lag-behind and thereby causingthe=dissociation between the rear element and 'theLfront-element andfthe operation of the fuse dueto the meeting of the percussion cap b and'the needle-point-carrying element c1 separated l Yfrom thehead-carrying element c2.

In the embodiment which has just been deiscribed, it-is possible, inorder to increase the mass of the l:needle-point-carrying rear elementof the striker without increasing its bulk, to extend the said elementforwardly until it contacts the V"head c2, a slit being left for thepassage of the pin d, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 3.Y

Figure 4 shows a Variation of the constructional form of Figure 3, inwhich the two distinct ele- .ments, needle point carrier c1 and'headcarrier c2 are assembled together bythe same frangible or shearablemember d which normally retains the "whole of the striker fixed withrespect to the fuse body a.

Figure 4 also shows a particular arrangement v of the rear=member of thering mechanism, the

' said arrangement being equally applicable to all the forms ofconstruction of the invention. In

order to prevent any meeting between the needle point of the striker andthe percussion cap in the case of the Ypremature rupture of theretainjing member of the striker or of the member assembling togetherthe elements of the said striker, while the projectile is travellingthrough the gun barrel, the percussion cap carrier, as shown in Figure4, is disposed in a recess a2 of the fuse body where,"instead ofbeingfixed, the said percussion cap carrier is yieldngly urged against thefront part of the said recess by means of a resilient member h, such asa spring, a cylinder of' felt or cork, and so forth. It will beappreciated that, on the initial movement of the projectile at themoment of firing and during its acceleration, the percussion cap carrieris held back by its inertia which is suflicient to compress theresilient support h. Once the acceleration has ceased, the said supportresumes its preponderance and fixes the percussion cap carrier in theposition indicated in Fig. 4.

Figure 5 shows the percussion cap carrier of Figure 4 driven towards thebottom of its recess and the support h compressed. The figure shows theposition which the striker may assume in the case of premature ruptureof the pin d.

"In the construction shown in Figure G-,Hwh-ioh may be considered as amodification of the device shown in Figure 3, the striker is constitutedby two elements: a head-carrying front element c2 and aneedle-point-carrying rear element c1, connected together by means of ashearable assembling pin y, the whole of the two elements being normallysecured to the fuse body a by the usual pin d. In this construction,however, the rear element c1 is not prevented from moving forward. Onthe contrary, the dissociation between the said elements c1 and c2 isbrought about upon impact, under the effect of the inertia of theelement c1 which moves forward, shearing the pin y. Once the elements c1and c2 are dissociated, operation take place as in the precedingexamples.

In thermodification illustrated in Figure 7, the dissociable strikercomprises a head-carrying element cZ and a needle point-carrying elementc1 connected together by means of the shearable retaining pin d, whichpasses through the element c1 and at the same time through thetail-piece i1 of a plunger i, the head of which bears by means of ashoulder against the base of the head-carrying element c2. A clearance jis left between the said head z' and the front end of the hollow stem ofthe element c2.

Upon impact, the plunger i moves forward relatively to the strikerassembly, shearing the pin `d and thereby effecting the dissociation ofthe elements c1 and c2.

In all the forms of construction which have just been described, it hasbeen specified that the distance e between the head c2 of thedissociable striker and the shoulder a1 of the fuse body was necessarilyless than the distance f separating the needle point c1 from'thepercussion cap b. It should be noted that the said distance f may bemade large enough to delay in a suitable manner the meeting of thestriker and the percussion cap. It is thus possible to delay theoperation without employing a delay-action composition, solely onaccount of the interval left between the two elements of the mechanism.

` As shown in part Sectional elevation in Figure 8, it is also possibleto employ the dissociable striker according to the invention by simplycombining it with the detonating percussion cap k, the usualintermediate firing percussion cap b being rin this case omitted.

needle point or any other suitable shock member.

Figure 9 shows in sectional elevation such a constructional example. Inthis construction the front head carrier c2 is made in the form of asocket in the interior of which is disposed a percussion cap c1constituting the rear element of the dissociable unit member c2--c1. Theunit c2-p-c1 may be normally retained in a fixed position with respectto the fuse body a, for example, by means of a washer d havingprojecting pieces, such as that shown in Figure 10, which is pierced bya central hole d1 and is fixed securely in the fusebody by theprojecting pieces d2. Of course, the masses c1 and c2 will be suitablychosen to ensure operation in the same manner as in the constructionalexamples described hereinbefore. On impact, the washer is sheared fromits projecting pieces d2 and the two elements c1 and c2 are forcedrearwardly together until the head c2 strikes shoulder a1 and issuddenly arrestedin its rearward movement. 'I'he inertia of c1 duringthe continuation of the movement of the projectile will delay theforward movement of the percussion cap which will thereupon be struck bythe fixed striker b which continues its movement with the projectile.

Figure 11 shows in sectional elevation an exretained on the fuse body,for example, by means of a stud m1 engaged in a slot a3. The cap,likewise in known manner and as shown in Figure 11, may be retained inthe position of this gure by a collar 11, adapted to be withdrawn uponthe bomb being dropped, and which if desired may constitute one of thesuspension members of the bomb.

Figure 12 shows in sectional elevation the use of the device of adissociable front member similar to that shown in Figure 4 incombination with a safety device o, adapted to be withdrawn under theeffect of the centrifugal force, of any known type and disposed at asuitable point, for example at the rear of the dissociable member c'L-c1of the mechanism. In this example, the safety device is constituted by aspring bolt, the nose of which remains in the path oi the member c2-c1as long as the effects of the centrifugal force have not made themselvesfelt suiciently to ensure the complete withdrawal of the said nose.

A projectile provided with any one of the forms of construction whichhave just been described is, as indicated in the foregoing, ensuredagainst any premature operation during its travel in the interior of thegun barrel. It has been shown in the foregoing that the mechanism of thefuse operates, upon encountering an obstacle, so long as the nature ofthe obstacle is such that the projectile may continue its movement witha suffcient velocity during a suitable time for effecting thedissociation between the elements of the dissociable front member.

It obviously results from this fact that, if the velocity of theprojectile is insufficient, the dissociation between the elements c1 andc2 is impossible; and it follows that a projectile, even if it strikes avery resistant obstacle, cannot burst on account of the operation of theiiring mechanism, the dissociation of the elements of the dissociablefront member not being effected and the rupture of the pin or otherretaining member of Athe projectile 'does not hit the objective, -i-tvmay fall without the mechanism of the fuse operating, whenever suchfalltakes place on hard ground or any other resistant obstacle (such aspavings, roads, buildings, and so forth).

If it is desired to ensure the operation of the fuse ,on encountering aresistant obstacle, it is possible, as shown in Figure 12, to providethe front element czof the dissociable member cZ-c1 with a projection pwhich extends forwardly beyondelement c2 a distance greater than thedis- Y'tance e between the rear surface of said element and the shouldera1 of the fuse body. Upon initial encounter of the end of projection pwith a resistant'obstacle, the'dissociable member c2-c1 is drivenrearwardly as a unit so as to rupture the'retainingv member d and untilengagement between head c2 and shoulder a1, atrwhich time a portion ofprojection p will still extend beyond the end of fuse Vbody a. Thisremaining portion will then be crushed as the projectile continues tomove until the end of the fuse body also comes into contact with theobstacle. During the crushing of the projection p, the projectile willtravel` through a suitable distance with an ap-V preciable residualvelocity, which is sufficient to ensure the operation of the mechanismby the dissociation of the two element c2 and c1.

, Although a number of Vdiiferent forms of the invention have. beendescribed and illustrated in Y theV accompanying drawings, it will beobvious lof the invention.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a percussion fuse mechanism, the cornbination with a fuse -body ofa rear fuse member xedwith respect to said body, a front fuse membercomprising at least two separable elements normally united together,means normally securing all of the elements of said frontmember 4infixed positions relative to the fuse body but rupturable upon impact soas to permit said elements to movefrearwardly with respect to said body,means for Ylimiting the extent of rearward movement of the frontmostelement of said front member, and means normally uniting said elements'but rupturable after impact Vso as to separate the rearmost elementfrom the frontmost element, the mass of said rearmost element beingsuch'that Yafter separation ,from the frontmost element and engagementofthe latter with said limiting means, and during continued forwardmovement of the fuse body, the inertia of said rearmost element issufcient to bring it vinto Apercussion contact with `therear member ofAthe fuse mechanism.

V`2. AV fuse mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the rear fuse memberis disposed at ysuch a VdistanceV from the front member VthatVVpercussion contact between the rearmost element of the front memberand the rear member is delayed for aV suitable length of time afterdissociation :ofthe front'member into its separate elements,

V'whereby the use of a delay-action composition only astor forwardmovement relative to the fuse body, Saidmechanism -including a resilientsupport interposed between said rear fuse member and a fixed portion ofthe fuse body to the rear -thereof whereby, when said fuse mechanism isused with .a projectile, theV rear fuse member is set back into a-ninoperative position when the projectile is fired from the gun.

4. ,A fuse mechanism' according to claim 1 including means forpositively preventing rearward movement of the :front fuse member, whenthe fuse mechanism is used with a projectile, until after the projectileis in night, said means being then withdrawn :into inoperative positionunder the influence of centrifugal force.

5. In a percussionV fuse mechanism, the combination with a fuse -body ofa rear Yfuse member comprising a'percussion capxed with respect to saidbody, a front fuse member having a Ybody portion slidably mounted in thefuse body and a percussion cap striker on the rear end thereof, meansnormally securing said front member to said fuse body Vbut rupturableupon impact so as -to permit said member to move rearwardly with respectto said body, and means for limiting the extent of `said rearwardmovement of said front member, the body portion of said front memberbeing weakened at lone point in its length and the masses of said memberforward and rearward of said weakened point being such that, uponengagement of said member with said limiting means, the rearstriker-carrying portion thereof is detached from the front portionunder the effect of its inertia and, during continued forward travel ofthe fuse body, is brought into firing contact with the percussion cap.

6. In a percussion fuse mechanism, the combination with a fuse body of arear fuse member comprising a percussion cap xed with respect t0 saidbody, a front fuse Vmember having a body portion slidably mounted in thefuse body, an enlarged head on theV forward end thereof .and apercussion cap striker on the rear end thereof, a

frangible pin passing through said body portion and anchored at its endsin said fuse body, said pin normally securing said front member to saidfuse body but rupturable upon impact so as to permit said member to moverearwardly with respect to said fuse body, and a shoulder fixed withrespect to said fuse vbody for limiting the extent 0f rearward movementof said head-carrying portion of rsaid front member by engagementtherewith, the body portion of said front member being weakened in theregion of said pin and the masses of said member forward and rearward ofsaid weakened point being such that, upon engagement of said head withsaid shoulder, the rear striker-carrying portion of said member isdetached from the head-carrying portion under the effect of its inertiaand, during continued forward travel of the fuse body, is brought intofiring contact with the percussion cap.

7. In a percussion fuse mechanism, the combination with a fuse body of apercussion cap fixedly mounted in said body, a striker member slidablymounted in said fuse body forward of said percussion cap, said strikermember including a front element adapted to receive the impact ,and arear element carrying a striker point, means normally securing saidstriker member to said Yfuse body but rupturable upon impact so as topermit said member to move rearwardly with respect to said fuse body,means normally securing said front and rear elements of said membertogether but rupturable upon rearward movement of said front element,and means for limiting the extent of rearward movement of said frontelement, the mass of said rear element being such that after rupture ofsaid last mentioned securing means and engagement of said front elementwith said limiting means, and during continued forward travel of thefuse body, the inertia of said rear element is suicient to bring itsstriker point'into firing contact with said percussion cap.

8,111 a percussion fuse mechanism, the combination with a fuse body of arear fuse member fixed with respect to said body, a front fuse membercomprising a front element and a rear element, said front elementcarrying an enlarged head extending beyond the fuse body and adapted `toreceive the impact, a shearable member normally securing said frontelement to said fuse body but rupturable upon impact so as to permitrearward movement of said element relative to said fuse body, a secondshearable member normally securing said rear element to said frontelement, and a shoulder formed on said fuse body for limiting the extentof rearward movement of' said front element by engagement with saidhead, the mass of said rear element being such that after impact andupon engagement of said shoulder with said head said second shearablemember is ruptured so as to separate the rear element from said frontelement, continued forward travel of the fuse body then bringing therear element into percussion Contact with the rear member of theV fusemechanism.

9. In a percussion fuse mechanism, the combination with .a fuse body ofa percussion cap fixedly mounted in said body, a striker member slidablymounted in said fuse body forward of said percussion cap, said strikermember including a front element carrying an enlarged headextending-beyond the fuse body and adapted to receive the impact and arear element carrying a striker point, a shearable member normallysecuring said front element to said fuse body but rupturable upon impactso as to permit said element to move rearwardly with respect to saidfuse body, a second shearable member normally securing said rear elementto said front element, means for preventing forward movement of saidrear element relatively to said front element, and a shoulder carried bysaid fuse body for limiting the extent of rearward movement of saidfront element by engagement with said head, the mass of said rearelement being such that upon engagement of said head with said shoulderthe inertia of said element ruptures said second shearable means so asto disconnect said elements from one another and, during continuedforward travel of the fuse body, brings its striker point into ringcontact with said percussion cap.

10. In a percussion fuse mechanism, the combination with a fuse body ofa percussion cap fixed with respect to said body, a striker membercomprising a front element and a rear element slidably mounted in saidfuse body forward of. said percussion cap, said front element carryingan enlarged head extending beyond the fuse body and adapted to receivethe impact, said rear element being mounted within said front elementfor movement rearwardly but not forwardly relative thereto and carryinga striker point, a shearable pin normally securing said front element tosaid fuse body but rupturable upon impact so as to permit rearwardmovement of said element relative to said fuse body, a second shearablepin normally securing said rear element to said front element, and ashoulder formed on said fuse body for limiting the extent yof rearwardmovement of said front element by engagement with said head, the mass ofsaid rear element being such that after impact and upon engagement ofsaid shoulder with said head said second shearable pin is ruptured so asto separate the rear element from said front element, continued forwardtravel of the fuse body then bringing the striker point of said rearelement into firing contact with the percussion cap.

il. In a percussion fuse mechanism, the combination with a fuse body ofa percussion cap fixedly mounted in said body, a striker member slidablymounted in said fuse body forward of said percussion cap, said strikermember including a front element carrying an enlarged head extendingbeyond the fuse body and adapted to receive the impact and a rearelement carrying a strikerpoint, a shearable pin passing through bothsaid front and rear .elements and anchored at its ends in said fusebody, said pin normally securing said elements together and to said fusebody, the connection between said elements and the fuse body beingrupturable upon impact so as to permit said elements to move rearwardlywith respect to said fuse body, means for preventing forward movement ofsaid rear element relatively to said front element, and a shouldercarried by said fuse body for limiting the extent of rearward movementof. said front element by engagement with said head, the mass of saidrear element being such that upon engagement of said head with saidshoulder the inertia of said element ruptures the connection betweensaid elements so as to disconnect them one from the other and, duringcontinued forward travel of the fuse body, brings its striker point intofiring contact with said percussion cap.

12. In a percussion fuse mechanism, the combination with a fuse body ofa rear fuse member fixed with respect to said body, a front fuse membercomprising a front and a rear element normally united together, saidfront element having an enlarged head thereon, means normally securingsaid front member to the fuse body but rupturable upon impact so as topermit said member to move rearwardly with respect to said fuse body, ashoulder carried by said fuse body for limiting the extent of rearwardmovement of the front element o-f said front member by engagement withsaid head, a crushable impact receiving member projecting forwardly fromsaid enlarged head and extending beyond the end of said fuse body adistance greater than the normal distance between said head and saidshoulder, and means normally securing said front and rear elementstogether but rupturable after impact so as to separate the same, themass of said rear element being such that after separation from saidfront element and engagement of said head with said shoulder, and duringcontinued forward travel of the fuse body until said impact receivingmember is crushed to the level of the front end of the fuse body, theinertia of said rear element is suicient to bring it into percussioncontact with the rear member of the fuse mechanism.

13. In a percussion fuse mechanism for a projectile or the like, thecombination with a fuse body of a fixed rear fuse member, a front fusemember comprising a plurality of separable elements normally securelyconnected to 4one another, a retaining member normally rendering saidfront fuse member immovable relatively to "the-tine; body; VsaidretainineY member beinesoVV t (lied, ,and arranged vthat upon; impactangobstaele of insumcient resistanceV to 'alfrest'thg glfli?l of theprojectile the connection between said front fuse member and the fusebody inqkerinralld said fuseV member moves rearwardly relatively to thefuse body under the force oi impact, and means for limiting therearward,

movement o f one of the elements of said front 10i fils@ moembei.' at,least one otherA of said elements being unlimited in its movementby saidlast named. means;Y the normali connection between Said; elements; of;the front fuse j member being such that` afterimpaet and uponengagement. of;

one of said element-s,V withv the. limiting means Saidy connection isruptureddue tothe inertial of thejurllmiiled element and the latter isfree to mQverearwardIy into; percussion contanti. with. the rearfuse;member during continued forward travel of. theiproiectile.:

LEONl REMONDY.

